UEFA Super Cup 2008 - Match Report
Zenit St Petersburg beat Manchester United 2-1 to win the Super Cup.
© Paul Jude Seaton
Aug 29, 2008
The current European Cup holders and English Champions took on Russian UEFA Cup holders Zenit St. Petersburg in the glamourous setting of Monaco's Stade Louis II stadium.
Opening Exchanges
With dynamic Russian Andrei Arshavin left on the bench, Zenit St. Petersburg, who won the UEFA Cup back in May, started the match as second favourites. But with Dick Advocaat's team already five months into the Russian domestic season, they dominated the early exchanges, and looked to have more energy in the final third of the pitch. Manchester United, fresh from selling French striker Louis Saha to Premier League rivals Everton, looked lightweight upfront, with only Carlos Tevez making any inroads. The Argentinian ran himself ragged chasing the ball all over the park, and set up The Red Devils' only chance of the first half, cutting back only for Wayne Rooney to miskick the ball and scuff his shot against the Zenit goalkeeper's legs.
Zenit Take The Lead
With seconds until half-time, Zenit St. Petersburg won a corner, and Pavel Pogrebnyak pounced after a flick-on at the near-post to bundle in the opening goal. With the half-time whistle came one change; Arshavin was introduced into the action, and the tricky midfielder almost stole in early in the second half when he jinked past Rio Ferdinand and into the United box, only to falter at the last. However, United's temerity in defence was to be punished. With Advocaat spending a Russian record £25million on Portuguese starlet Danny, many believe Arshavin to be bound elsewhere. And few fans will complain after seeing the new Zenit hero glide past United's static defence and slam in a second goal.
United Fightback
If Zenit's seocnd goal should have killed the game, it had the opposite effect. With Darren Fletcher ineffective and Brazilian maestro Anderson feeling the effects of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Sir Alex Ferguson sent on midfielder John O'Shea and winger Ji-Sun Park to change things. Immediately, United seemed a more threatening prospect, and after grinding their way back into dominant possession, scrambled a goal through Serbian defender Njemanja Vidic. With fifteen minutes to go, United had a chance to equalise and force extra-time in the opulent surroundings of the Stade Louis II stadium. United's injured boy-wonder Cristiano Ronaldo watched on from the stands, hoping for a leveller for his team-mates.
Trophy Won
With Wes Brown replacing United captain Gary Neville, United drove forward, creating chances and going close on a number of occasions. It seemed that it was only a matter of minutes until they levelled. But with time running out, Paul Scholes, who had already been booked in the first half, handled the ball into the top corner to receive his second yellow and the first red card a United player had received this season. With a man advantage for the remaining minutes, Zenit held on desperately, with Rio Ferdinand denied at the death by some brave Zenit defensive play. But United were unable to score, and Zenit St. Petersburg had won the 2008 UEFA Super Cup.
The copyright of the article UEFA Super Cup 2008 - Match Report in European Football is owned by Paul Jude Seaton. Permission to republish UEFA Super Cup 2008 - Match Report in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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